http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...n/news-story/008f059ee1d4c32720b6a06df05b1d75
Semi Radradra to test life in French rugby before considering an NRL return
Michael Carayannis and Christian Nicolussi, The Daily Telegraph
May 25, 2017 8:00pm
SEMI Radradra is in no rush to recommit to the Eels, and plans to see how he settles into French rugby life before entertaining a return to the blue and gold next season.
Parramatta coach Brad Arthur confirmed the club had been in talks with Radradra’s management
about the winger returning next May when his season with Toulon finishes.
“If Semi wants to come back, he’s not the sort of player that you’re going to turn away,’’ Arthur said.
“We’re hoping that when he goes overseas and he enjoys his footy there, but at some stage we want to see him back in the blue and gold.’’
Radradra stands to earn $900,000 AFTER tax with Toulon, which is way more than most playmakers let alone wingers in rugby league can expect to pocket.
The Fijian proved a handful for Canberra last weekend, and is sure to terrorise South Sydney’s Aaron Gray on his left wing at ANZ Stadium on Friday night.
KANE ADDS HEIGHT TO EELS
PARRAMATTA coach Brad Arthur made it clear to new recruit Kane Evans he needed a ‘’tall, rangy prop’’ because his current batch of front-rowers were ‘’nuggets’’.
Evans is nearly two metres tall and will tower over his new Eels teammates next year, including stocky props Tim Mannah, Nathan Brown and Suaia Matagi.
“I met BA a few times, he seems a really good bloke, and from what I heard from their players, he reckons he can get the best out of them,’’ Evans said.
“He told me they were looking for a tall rangy prop, and they had a lot of short ‘nuggets’ who were powerful.
“Nathan Brown, he’s a weapon. There are a lot of short, stocky props, and he wanted a tall dynamic prop, and saw me fitting in their well. I was grateful for the opportunity.’’
Evans labelled his own form for the Chooks ‘’pretty average for me’’, and wanted to make sure he aimed up the second half of the year and farewell Bondi with a bang.
He will need fire against Canberra on Sunday with fellow giant Dylan Napa in Queensland Origin camp.
“I’ve been getting good speed on to the ball in attack, but I’ve just got to not throw that pass when it’s not on,’’ Evans said.
Brown is listed as 185cm in the NRL media guide, and if that’s the case, we’re both 200cm.
TEPAI’S PRIDE AND JOY
TEPAI Moeroa and his partner welcomed their first bub into the world last week, a son, Keanu.
Weighing a healthy 3kg, Keanu is light by the Moeroa family’s standards.
“I think he’s the smallest boy when it comes to my family. I was 10 pounds, and they actually said I was obese before I turned one,’’ the Eels backrower told us.
